What the occupation covers
Scrape and sand wooden floors to smooth surfaces using floor scraper and floor sanding machine, and apply coats of finish.
Official definition from the Standard Occupational Classification, code 47-2043.
The pay range
Pay differs a lot inside one occupation, with experience, employer and place. The table shows where the lines fall.
| Share of workers | A year | A month* | A week* | An hour |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Lowest 10% earn less than | $37,070 | $3,089 | $713 | $17.82 |
| Lowest 25% earn less than | $41,600 | $3,467 | $800 | $20.00 |
| Median (half earn less, half more) | $50,440 | $4,203 | $970 | $24.25 |
| Top 25% earn more than | $59,620 | $4,968 | $1,147 | $28.66 |
| Top 10% earn more than | $70,340 | $5,862 | $1,353 | $33.82 |
* Month and week are the yearly figure divided by 12 and by 52, worked out here for convenience. BLS publishes the yearly and hourly figures.
How it compares
The median for all occupations in the United States was $50,980 a year. The median for Floor Sanders and Finishers is $50,440, which is about the same. Among the 60 occupations of the field Construction and Extraction, it ranks number 40 by median pay. With 3,720 jobs, it makes up about 0.2 of every 10,000 jobs in the country.
Floor Sanders and Finishers pay by state
The highest median pay was in Utah ($74,240), Minnesota ($62,940) and Oregon ($62,020). The lowest was in Puerto Rico ($21,980), North Carolina ($39,170) and Texas ($40,120). The most jobs were in Florida (270), New York (240) and North Carolina (190). The occupation is most concentrated in Colorado, where its share of all jobs is 1.9 times the national share.
No state matches.
| State | Jobs | Median a year | Average a year | Median an hour |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Utah | 30 | $74,240 | $72,820 | $35.69 |
| Minnesota | not published | $62,940 | $60,900 | $30.26 |
| Oregon | not published | $62,020 | $62,290 | $29.82 |
| New York | 240 | $60,470 | $61,700 | $29.07 |
| Massachusetts | not published | $58,230 | $55,930 | $28.00 |
| Washington | 90 | $55,620 | $57,130 | $26.74 |
| Colorado | 130 | $55,180 | $54,080 | $26.53 |
| Kentucky | not published | $54,580 | $58,710 | $26.24 |
| Florida | 270 | $52,060 | $49,190 | $25.03 |
| Michigan | not published | $51,400 | $48,850 | $24.71 |
| Maryland | not published | $51,100 | $55,410 | $24.57 |
| Missouri | not published | $48,540 | $50,430 | $23.34 |
| Ohio | not published | $48,000 | $49,570 | $23.08 |
| New Hampshire | not published | $47,310 | $48,680 | $22.75 |
| Virginia | 110 | $46,860 | $46,410 | $22.53 |
| Iowa | 30 | $46,810 | $48,550 | $22.51 |
| Indiana | not published | $46,520 | $61,040 | $22.37 |
| Pennsylvania | 30 | $45,450 | $51,750 | $21.85 |
| South Carolina | 60 | $44,310 | $43,350 | $21.30 |
| Nebraska | not published | $43,880 | $44,580 | $21.10 |
| Georgia | not published | $40,530 | $46,780 | $19.49 |
| Texas | 140 | $40,120 | $45,220 | $19.29 |
| North Carolina | 190 | $39,170 | $40,520 | $18.83 |
| Puerto Rico | not published | $21,980 | $22,360 | $10.57 |
Sorted by median pay, highest first. "Not published" means BLS did not release that figure for the state, usually because too few employers were surveyed. "$239,200 or more" is the highest value BLS reports in the state tables.
Similar occupations by pay
- Paving, Surfacing, and Tamping Equipment Operators$53,340 a year
- Solar Photovoltaic Installers$53,140 a year
- Paperhangers$52,140 a year
- Carpet Installers$50,340 a year
- Highway Maintenance Workers$50,260 a year
- Miscellaneous Construction and Related Workers$49,910 a year
Common questions
How much do Floor Sanders and Finishers earn in the United States?
The median pay was $50,440 a year in May 2025, according to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics. The lowest-paid 10% earned less than $37,070 and the highest-paid 10% more than $70,340.
How many people work as Floor Sanders and Finishers?
About 3,720 jobs in the United States in May 2025, not counting the self-employed.
Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025. Checked in November 2026. Figures are for employees, before tax, and leave out overtime pay and benefits. They are official statistics, not advice or a pay offer; see bls.gov/oes for the original tables.